Happy 60th Birthday, Creagan

Happy 60th Birthday Creagan

2018-01-04, Las Vegas NV.Today would have been the 60th birthday of my childhood friend, Creagan (Ed) McConnell. It’s hard to imagine that he’s been gone for almost three-years. On a recent photo-walk I did one Saturday morning on the Las Vegas Strip I was reminded that that adventure might have been something that he would have enjoyed. Well, he probably wouldn’t have enjoyed the walking too much with his prosthetic leg, but he would enjoyed the sights. That kind of sums it up, it was often a pain, but there was always the knowing smile. That said, having known each other as long as we did, ours was an often rocky imperfect friendship that lapsed for various reason, living in different state since the mid-90s and then on opposite ends of the country during the last eight-years of his life didn’t really help. But going through the photos over the years, we did have some great fun, often in the company of friends we’d gone to Mission Viejo High School with. I think we thought we knew each other, but given the infrequent communication, I’m certain that I probably didn’t. And in the end it was our shared experience of prolonged illness and facing our own mortality that reconnected us in the end. My last conversation with him was when I was stuck in the Atlanta Airport for a boring “everything’s closed” New Year’s Eve layover on my way back to Orlando from my Christmas visit to California. And we talked about how we used to call our friend Jen in California after we’d been partying our brains out on New Years Eve at the Bird Cage Bar in Prescott, AZ. I don’t remember much else from the conversation, but I probably bitched about not being able to get even a decent beer to celebrate the new year and he probably said something about … “the next time I’m in the area…” Damn. There wasn’t a next time and I miss the old guy. Happy birthday, Creagan, and even though it’s not my custom to drink alone, I think it would be the right thing to do to have a shot of tequila in your honor. Oh, the stories we could tell…

You can find my previous mock-umentary on my friend here.Images used in the video can be viewed in the gallery below.

Image Catalog:
Click on any image to bring up larger view and to launch viewer:

1958-09 Creagan Edward Charles McConnell

6th Grade Ed McConnell (?)

1974 McConnell with Laurie

1976 McConnell – Wrestling

1986 post-reunion with Jennifer & Creagan

1986-12 NYE with Creagan

1986-12 NYE with Jennifer & Creagan

1987-01 Post-Xmas with MV5

1987-01 Post-Xmas with MV5

1988 creagan house party with denise west

1988 creagan house party with denise west

1988 creagan house party with jen bispo

1988 creagan house party with jen bispo

1991-01-04 McConnell Birthday

1991-01-10 Superbowl

1991-02-14 Valentine’s Day with Denise, Creagan & Michele

1991-03-18 Easter in MV

1991-03-28 Moving Day

1991-03-28 Moving Day

1991-05-08 Softball

1991-07-20 OC Fair with Creagan

1991-11-25 Thanksgiving in MV

1991-11-25 Thanksgiving in MV

1992-06-21 Father’s Day Picnic

1992-12-25 Creagan’s xmas gathering

1993-04-19 Magic Mountain with Creagan & Jenny

1993-10-31 McConnell Halloween Party

1993-12-25 McConnell xmas

1994-02 with Jennifer & Creagan

1994-03 Creagan’s Good-bye party with Creagan & Jennifer

1994-05-06 McConnell Tries to Leave MV

1994-08 Laughlin Weekend with Creagan

1994-08 Laughlin Weekend with Creagan

1994-08 Laughlin Weekend with Creagan

1994-08-04 OC Fair with Creagan & His Niece

1994-09 with Creagan

1994-09-06 Evening with Eva, Creagan & Jen

1994-09-08 Evening with Creagan & Jen

1994-12 xmas with Creagan & Merrilee

1995 with Jennifer & Creagan

1995-01-01 Prescott New Years Eve

1995-01-01 Prescott New Years Eve with Sloan

1995-01-01 Prescott New Years Eve

1996-07-20 MVHS Class of 1976 20th Reunion – Creagan & Jen Dancing

1996-07-20 MVHS Class of 1976 20th Reunion – Creagan yearbook guy

1997 Vegas couple

1997-01 Xmas with MV5

1998 Jen&McC – Hawaii

1998 Jen&McC – Prescott

1998 Mcc – Prescott with the folks

1998 New Years DJs

1998 New Years DJs

1998-02 Jenny Bispo’s 40th

1998-02 Jenny Bispo’s 40th

1998-07 Vegas – cheesecake t-shirt & polo models

1998-07 Vegas – creagan, silver dress and me

1998-07 Vegas – me, jen and creagan

1998-07 Vegas – voodoo cafe – cheers

1999-02-03 chillin in my studio – long beach with Jen & Creagan

1999-11-20 Creagan & I at Mom & Dad’s 50th Anniversary

1999-12 Blue Cafe – me and creagan

1999-12 Creagan joking with Merrilee

2000-01-01 NYE

2000-01-02 me and Creagan

2001-12-31 NYE with McConnell

2002-01-06 OMAET-Heading to CSCL Conference at Union Station with Creagan